Water-filter



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. B. FARWELL. WATER FILTER Patented Mar. 157, 18967 NVENTDE.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheen 2.

W. B. FARWELL.

WATER FILTER.

Patented Mar.. 17, 1896.

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Mq V/VITNEFI'EEE Il l -INVENTDR O/ /f www@ 3f/Mmm 90% ANDREW BRAHAM. PHUTU-UIHQWASHI N670". IC

UNrrnn.- Srnrns Farmer @trice XVILLRD' ll'. FARWELTL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

WAT ERE-FILT E Rf'.

SPECIEIGATION formingbpart of Letters Patent No. 556,725, dated March 17, 1896.

Application filed February 13, 1894. Serial No. 500,040. (No mocleld Be it known that IJVILLARD B. FARWELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State ofk California,have invented'certain new and useful Improvements in "Water-Filters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in water-lters of the kind or description which employ for altering medium tubes or hollow cylinders made of natural stone possessing iiltering qualities or formed of artificial compositions resembling' stone; and my invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as hereinafter fully described and setv forth in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forinin g apart of this speci.- iication.

In the said drawings, Figure l represents in side elevation a complete iiltering apparatus constructed. according to my invention and comprising atanlr. or receptacle for the filtered water, a iiltering-chamber having a iilteringdiaphragm in the form of a hollow cylinder, a scraper or scrubber and means for rotating or moving the cylinderin contact with the said scraper from the outside of the iiltering-chambei', and an automatic regulator' controlling' the supply of uniiltered water to the filteringehaniber in proportion to the consumption of the filtered water. The upper part of the water-receptacle and the filtering-chamber are shown in longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a top 'View of the water-receptacle and the filteringchamber upon it. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section of the'iiltering-chamber taken in a plane about midway between the top and the bottom of the chamber. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one of the Scrapers removed from the filtering-chamber. Figlie an outside View in front elevation of the filtering-chamber in the top of a water-receptacle,the upper part of the receptacle being broken away to expose the parts ofthe water-supply` regulator' inside.

A indicates a water tank or receptacle with double walls iilled with a non-conducting substance. The receptacle here represented is the ordinary portable water-cooler in which water for drinking purposes is kept during warm weather. As commonly constructed, it

is formed of sheet metal with filled walls; but such coolers are also constructed of earthenware, pottery, stone, and similar hard substances and' material. closed by a lid or cover removable for purposes of filling the cooler and for introducing ice. A faucet or draw-off eockis usually iixed in the lower part for filling drinking utensils from the receptacle. ln some cases, however, these water-receptacles are set up and connected to a supply-pipe, and are also connected b y a service-pipe with a draw-off faucet located at a distance from the receptacle, in which case they are of a more permanent charactor. These improvements are applicable as well to such fixedor permanent receptacles for holding and supplying iiltered water as to portable water-receptacles, and they are as readily combined for operation with one character or description of receptacle as with the other.

l is a cylindrical chamber formed of a fianged cylindrical body 3X and two circular flanged heads b2 b2, united bybolts and nuts, as shown in the dra\\-'ings, with packing 113 between the joints, The lower one of the heads has a cylindrical standing rim on the outside that forms on the bottom. a neck or projecting portion BP of about the same diameter as the body BX. In the center of each head is a circular opening with a surrounding neck or rim h1, screw-threaded an d fitted with a threaded cap lf, in which there is a central opening' of the same size as the opening in the head. A packing C, of rubber or other suitable substance, and a metal washer C2 for a follower are set within the rims b* to form a stuffing-box around the opening in each head,

D represents a iiltering tube or cylinder of stone, or of composition resembling stone, having the required ltering properties and set within the chamber before mentioned. Its outer surface is surrounded by the unfiltered water, while the hollow space within it is sealed or perfectly closed to the surrounding water in the chamber. The ends of the cylinder are formed by circular metal heads E E, each head having a flanged rim EX iitting upon and closely against the end of the cylinder, Yanda packing-ring f interposed in- Ordinarily the top is IOO side the rim between the end of the cylinder and the head. These parts are drawn tightly together by a long bolt or threaded rod G.

In the center of each head on the outside is a long tubular axle or journal portion in line with the axis of the cylinder, the one, F, on the top of the upper head being made of proper length to extend through the stuffing-box to the outside and set above the cap, and the bottom axle, F, somewhat larger in diameter than the other one, F,having a tubular passage of greater diameter than the bore or passage through the top axle. This lower axle, F', is of suitable length to extend through the stufng-box on the lower head and into the space inclosed by the standing rim on the bottom, but its bottom end is closed, as shown at fx, Fig. l, and in the sides above the closed end before mentioned are outlet-apertures f2, located at such point that when the axle is set through the bottom of the filtering-chamber these apertures will be outside the filtering-chamber. The rod G, threaded at both ends, is set through the two heads E E through the hollow space within the cylinder. Its threaded lower end is screwed into a socket in the solid end of the axle F', and by a nut fitted on its threaded top end above the axle F the heads E E are drawn up tightly against the ends of the cylinder.

The rod Gr before mentioned fills the tubular passage through the upper axle, but a passage from the interior space of the cylinder is afforded around the rod by the increased diameter of the lower axle. From the space within the cylinder to the outside of the chamber surrounding the cylinder an outlet for the filtered water is thus provided through the axle F and the apertures f2.

The filtering-cylinder so mounted is revolved in the filtering-chamber on the axles F F by means of a handle H fixed on the upper axle outside the head. The end of the axle is finished square to lit a square eye or opening in one end hX of the handle, and a knob h2 for the hand is fixed on the opposite end. The cylinder mounted in this manner is rotatable in the chamber, and when turned by the handle II the whole exterior surface is brought in contact with a stationary scraper or scrubber I in the filtering-chamber fixed in suitable stationary position in contact with the surface of the cylinder.

The Scrapers or devices which I have used for this purpose are constructed of blades or strips of liexible material I-such as sheetrubber-clamped between stiff metal bars K K and fixed by screws m taking through one bar and into the other. The construction which I prefer to follow in making this scraper is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 31. Stiff sheet-rubber is good material to use for the strips I. They should project beyond the clamps K sufficiently to bend and lie against the surface of the cylinder D, asshown in Fig. 3, and in length they should correspond with the length of the cylinder D between the heads. Vhen set up in this manner against the cylinder it will be noticed that the corner or angle along one edge ofthe strip lies closely against the surface of' the cylinder, thereby forming a scraping edge, while the elastic or flexible character of the bent strip has the effect to hold this edge at all times up to its work. Usually I arrange two such strips in a pair between two clamps K K and secure them by the screws m, the strips being of such width that when set up against the cylinder they will bend outwardly and hold a curved shape in opposite directions to each other, so that in whatever direction the cylinder is rotated there will always be a scraping edge presented against the face of the cylinder in the most favorable working position. Then more than one of these Scrapers is placed in the filtering-chamber against the surface of the cylinder they areset at equal distances apart around the circumference of the cylinder. at points diametrically opposite to each other, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This number for a single cylinder may be increased, however` as circumstances may be found to require.

The ends of the clamps K K sit into sockets L L, formed on the inner faces of the two heads b2 h2, as shown in Figs. l and 3, by casting parallel lugs on the inner face of the head. By removing the top head the Scrapers can be taken. out to renew or replace them.

M is an inlet in the side of the ilteringchamber with a suitable coupling MX for a supply-pipe M2, and P is an outlet on the opposite side, to which is connected a waste-pipe PX. The pipes connected to these two openings should have stop-cocks for controlling the admission of the water to the filtering-chamber and for emptying the chamber at will.

XV is an air-vent for the escape of air from the iiltering-chamber. check-valve suitablyarranged to close the aperture when the chamber is filled with water and to drop and uncover the aperture when the waste-outlet is opened, in order to admit the atmospheric pressure from the outside.

The filtering apparatus thus constructed is mounted for operation upon a receptacle to receive and hold the filtered water for consumption or distribution, the standing rim or neck BB on the bottom of the lteringchamber r being set into an opening in the top of the receptacle. This is a much better construction than to make the body of the filteringchamber integral with the receptacle, as it allows the filtering apparatus proper to be re- 1 moved at pleasure for convenience of making repairs, and in addition thereto it enables the filter to be applied to any size or style of receptacle.

In an apparatus for supplying filtered i Ordinarily I arrange two of these strips It is provided with a of unfiltered water to the filtering-chamber in quantity according to the consumption of the filtered water from the receptacle. To such end and purpose I place at some convenient point on the supply-pipe a stop-cock or valve with a rotary ping of ordinary construction and then connect to the stem of that valve one end of a lever S carrying on the opposite end a ioat T, which is located inside the iiltered-water receptacle, these part-s being so arranged that the variations in the level of the water in such receptacle will raise and lower the oat and thus operate the valve in the supply-pipe. At the highest level the float-bearing end of the lever will be raised and the valve will be closed, while as the lever drops the valve will be turned and the water allowed to lflow int-e the filtering-chamber.

Figs. l and 4; of the drawings illustrate the manner in which this automatic regulation of the water supply before mentioned can be carried out without complicated mechanism.

In order to cool the inflowing water the supply-pipe M2 is carried directly through the bottom of the filtered-water receptacle upward and out at the top, where connection is made with the iiltering-chamber by a coupling M3 and an elbow MX. In this pipe within the filtered-water receptacle is placed a oook or valve R of ordinary construction haring a rotary plug RX, to the stem of which is fixed the lever S. This last-mentioned part is set in such relation to the highest level of the body of water in the ltered-water receptacle that when the same is full the lover stands about horizontal and the valve is closed, while in the angular position assumed by the lever at a lower level of the water the Valve is opened and the water iiows through the pipe M2 into the iiltering-chamber.

This construction of apparatus not only insures a constant supply of iiltered water without special care or attention to regulate the supply, but it tends to secure the best results in the operation of the filtering-chamber. It dispenses with the necessity also of maintaining water-tight joints between the filter proper and the receptacle for the filtered water.

The operation of cleaning the ltering-diaphragm is performed by turning the crank HA on the top of the chamber several times and opening the waste-pipe PX. In this way the surface of the diaphragm can be thoroughly cleaned and the foul matter washed out of the filtering-chamber at frequent intervals during the day without interrupting; the operation of iiltering.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, iisl. The combination, with the hollow filtering-cylinder having heads mounted for rotative movement within a surrounding filtering-chamber and having a passage and outlet through one head to the outside of the said chamber, and sockets on the inner faces of said heads at diametrically-opposite points, of the stationary clamps formed in pairs and insertible at their extremities in and removable from said sockets and the two exible scraping-blades held at their outer edges between said clamps and having square scraping inner edges extending beyond the said plates for contact with the surface of the filtering-cylinder for the entire length of the same, the said flexible blades being in breadth greater than the space between the surface of the cylinder and the stationary clamps,where by the said blades are kept in working contact with t-he surface of the cylinder, as set forth.

2. The herein-described filtering apparatus comprising the ltering-chamber B, hollow, rotatable cylinder D, having heads with axle portions extending through water-tight axleboxes in the heads of the filtering-chamber, an outlet-passage through the lower axle from the interior hollow space of the cylinder, a handle on the end of the upper axle outside for rotating the cylinder, a stationary scraping device adapted by the rotation of the cylinder to remove from the surface of the cylinder the filtered matter collected on the surface, a filtered-water receptacle beneath said iltering-chamber, an unfiltered-water-supply pipe extending through the interior of said receptacle and coupled to an inlet in the ltering-chamber, a cock in said pipe to control the iiow of water into the filtering-chamber, a float in the said water-receptacle and a lever connecting said cock with the ioat to move the same by the perpendicular movements of the float, and a waste-outlet from the lower part of the iiltering-chamber provided with a cock to open and close the same, constructed for operation, substantially as described.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

WILLARD li. FARWELL. [u s] Vitn esses z EDWARD E. OsBonN, C. W. M. SMITH.

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